Wherever I am in the world, I love experiencing traditional local dishes re-imagined with a creatively vegan-friendly flair! Better yet, I love learning how to make them, including getting to know new local veggies, plants, spices, flora and fauna (many of which are growing right in the city streets!). I also love talking to the people who nourish these cultural complexities while nourishing all life in a compassionate way.
While living for a few weeks in colourful and vibrant Ciudad de Oaxaca (Oaxaca City) in Mexico, I sought out the guidance of local 'social gastronomy' gurus at Etnofood for a Vegetarian (it was actually vegan) Oaxacan Cooking Class.
First we ventured out on a journey through the streets of Oaxaca, discovering local edible flora and fauna. Food is growing everywhere! Did you know the avocado tree leaf is edible? Or that guayaba leaf is good for the stomach (when consumed as a tea)? Or that the red fruit growing from the flower of the nopal cactus is a most delicious treat called tuna!
Then, in the Mercado de la Merced we met local 'backyard growers' of criollo (native, pre-hispanic) varieties of:
* Chayote (squash) - with an edible heart
* Aguacates pequeños (mini avocados) - with edible skins
* Hiutlacoche - criollo corn infected with a fungus that makes it a rare deliacy!
* And local hierbas (herbs) like chepiche, epazote, and chipil.
All of which we would bring back to the kitchen to prepare our feast!
Next, it was time to get to work! With aprons on, and our senses salivating, we began preparing vegan version of memelitas, mole amarillo, agua de mango y guayaba, and more!
The lack of meat certainly didn't leave us lacking flavour or nourishment. And the complexity of flavours and ingredients was astounding! I have full respect for anyone who creates such masterpieces on a daily basis!
Finally, it was time to enjoy the fruits of our labour! And feast we did, feeling content in the knowing that we were supporting the sustainability of local pre-hispanic culture while allowing it to evolve into a space where all beings benefit!
Muchas gracias a @etnofood 🙏🏼 Que rico!
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